Exhibits

Upcoming Exhibits:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Liora Davis

www.lioraart.com

“ELEPHANTS AND OTHER BIG SUBJECTS”

An exhibition of works by Liora Davis, the Elephant Messenger

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- The Broward based artist, Liora Davis, known as an Elephant Messenger, is raising her brush in order to shed light on the grave and critical situation in which elephants are at risk of extinction. Liora and many experts believe that our actions and decisions as humans now will make all the difference in ensuring the survival of elephants.

The “ELEPHANTS AND OTHER BIG SUBJECTS” exhibition, on display at ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale from February 3 - 28, will also feature the inter-connectivity of our world and will display a selection of art pieces displaying some of the beautiful native Florida plants and wildlife which are currently facing environmental challenges.

One of Liora’s signature pieces, "Wake UP, Save the Earth!" is a statement about how we need to respond, speak up, and engage pressing environmental challenges in order to preserve this beautiful and vulnerable planet for future generations.

Guests will experience music by Laura Sue, The Silver Nightingale as well as recorded music by Vicki Hallett featuring elephant rumblings courtesy of The Elephant Listening Project.

The exhibit is open to the public February 3 – 28. A portion of proceeds will be shared with The Elephant Listening Project, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and The South Florida Wildlife Center.

WHAT: Art Exhibition Featuring the work of Liora Davis, the Elephant Messenger

WHEN: Reception: February 22, 2018 6-9pm • Open to Public February 3 - 28

WHERE: ArtServe • 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd • Fort LauderdaleArtserve is open to the public from 9- 5 pm, most weeks 7 days, but do call about Sundays.

COST: FREE

Funding for this project is provided in part by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council.

High res images and more images on request; expanded press release available on request

Species are disappearing at an alarming rate. Some say that we are in the middle of World's Sixth Mass Extinction, which is arguably brought about by human activity.What’s causing this? Habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, poaching, exploitation and trade of body parts, climate change, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals in our environment all are factors. Extinction is forever.

The purpose of this exhibit is to shed light on this grave situation and the magnitude of species at risk. However, we are not here to spread doom and gloom. It’snot too late for many of these species, and our actions and decisions as humans now could make all the difference, especially to keystone species, like elephants. These are species that are intrinsically linked to our own survival.

“A keystone species is a plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions. Without keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether. All species in an ecosystem, or habitat, rely on each other.” -National Geographic

‘I have invited my talented students to depict endangered or threatened animals, along side my own elephant paintings in this exhibit. Some have been painting with me for many years. Others have just started painting months ago! I wanted to offer each one a voice here. I have been very moved by their willingness and passion to take on this project. ‘

Liora

The canary in the coal mine is gasping for breath. Our own fate as a human race may be determined by ‘that which we do to the least of these’.

“In October 2012, I heard a story on NPR radio about the poaching in the Preserve in Tanzania titled ‘In A Tanzanian Village, Elephant Poachers Thrive’. The story shook me to the core. It shed light on the

severity of the poaching in Africa. Estimates are that over 35,000 Elephants have been slain brutally, (entire families with babies and pregnant females) for their ivory each year since then in Africa. If this continues at this rate, some say they could be extinct in 10-12 years. That horrifies me. I truly had the feeling that I didn't want to live in a world where this could happen to these magnificent beings, and just couldn't shake the devastating feeling in my gut. The next day I was in a meditation and saw elephant paintings. I started painting immediately and then contacted The Elephant Listening Project, who gave me permission to use their amazing photos. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/elephant./index.html

I am also painting the orphans from The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Check out their website to learn more about what they are doing to stop poaching and about their orphan project. ” http:// www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Since the cost of ivory has skyrocketed, organized crime and terrorist groups are using it to quickly get money.

50% of proceeds of Liora’s Elephant pieces will be donated to The Elephant Listening Project and/or The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. 30% of proceeds of Student Artwork will also go to support these organizations.

About Liora:

At an early age, Liora was profoundly affected by the quote by Robert Kennedy; “There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” Her love of art and beauty led her to attend Parsons School of Design in New York, which honed her eye for design and color. Living and traveling in Europe as an adult has had a great influence as well. Liora grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut, and has been living and working mostly in South Florida since 1986. She has been a full time artist since the late eighties.

Commissions have been created in South Florida for The Stranahan House (their centennial poster), The Bonnet House , Sunfest, and The Las Olas Art Fairs (5 of their official posters). Others include Easter Seals, and The Red Cross Designer Show House in 2007. Liora designed and created a series of murals at Joe DiMaggio's Children's Hospital in 2005. Early in her career, she was commissioned to paint 2 wooden eggs for the White House Easter Egg roll. That year, she was in the company of Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenburg, and Maurice Sendak, to name a few. Those pieces all are housed in the Smithsonian Museum's permanent collection.

Exhibits include a solo show at the Gildo Pastor Center Gallery at The World Trade Center in Monte Carlo. Here in the U.S., there were a series of solo shows at the Northern Trust Banks, Broward College and numerous galleries. Collections include The Smithsonian Museum, the Virginia Beach Center for Contemporary Art, The Art of Living Foundation, and The Northern Trust Bank.

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BRIEF: The Elephant in the Room exhibit at Parker Playhouse, Fort Lauderdale. Artist Liora Goldfield Davis and her students will be mounting an exhibit at Parker Playhouse to shed light on endangered and threatened animals. The exhibit runs from February 10th through March 7th with a reception on Tuesday, February 16th from 6-9pm. 707 NE 8th Street Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

The exhibit can be viewed during box office hours, Tues-Sat. 12-5pm.

Music by The Silver Nightingale

Email Liora at lioraart@aol.com or Visit www.lioraart.com for more information High res images and images of student work on request

Past Exhibits:

Art for Elephants

An intimate showing of my latest elephant pieces (and one rhino!). 50% of proceeds of all ele and rhino pieces will support ELP and DSWT, the organizations whose photos I work from. At the same time view Art Bravo, in the main gallery. The Exhibit runs from January 3rd through January 30th and can be viewed Monday through friday til 6pm, check for evening and weekend hours with Artserve.Reception Friday January 23rd,2015 6-8pm.

ArtServe1350 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304

A TRIBUTE TO ELEPHANTS and other works

by a Broward artist who has been called “Vibrant Elephant Messenger”

Liora Goldfield Davis

This exhibit will focus on elephants, and to shed a light on their beauty, their tenderness and how similar they are to us emotionally in an effort to raise awareness of their plight. Liora’s art reflects an urgent need to act decisively to ensure the survival of this iconic species. Elephant populations are being decimated, with estimates of 35,000 or more being killed in 2012 and 2013 in Africa alone, each year that is approximately 10% of their current population. The soaring price of ivory has put a price on each elephant's head.

“In October 2012, I heard a story on NPR radio about the poaching in the Preserve in Tanzania titled ‘In A Tanzanian Village, Elephant Poachers Thrive’. The story shook me to the core. It shed light on the severity of the poaching in Africa. Over 35,000 Elephants were slain brutally, (entire families with babies and pregnant females) for their ivory last year alone in Africa. Estimates are that if this continues at this rate, they could be extinct in 10-12 years. That horrifies me. I truly had the feeling that I didn't want to live in a world where this could happen to these magnificent beings, and just couldn't shake the devastating feeling in my gut. The next day I was in a meditation and saw elephant paintings. I started painting immediately and then contacted The Elephant Listening Project, who gave me permission to use their amazing photos. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/elephant./index.html

I am also painting the orphans from The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Check out their website to learn more about what they are doing to stop poaching and about their orphan project. ” http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/ Since the cost of ivory has skyrocketed, organized crime and terrorist groups are using it to quickly get money.

50% of proceeds of Elephant pieces will be donated to The Elephant Listening Project and/or The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. 20% of proceeds of Non elephant pieces will also go to support these organizations and other organizations that protect and care for elephants.

At an early age, Liora was profoundly affected by the quote by Robert Kennedy; “There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” Her love of art and beauty led her to attend Parsons School of Design in New York, which honed her eye for design and color. Living and traveling in Europe as an adult has had a great influence as well. Liora grew up in Norwalk, Connecticut, and has been living and working mostly in South Florida since 1986. She has been a full time artist since the late eighties.

Exhibits include a solo show at the Gildo Pastor Center Gallery at The World Trade Center in Monte Carlo. Here in the U.S., there were a series of solo shows at the Northern Trust Banks, Broward College and numerous galleries. Collections include The Smithsonian Museum, the Virginia Beach Center for Contemporary Art, The Art of Living Foundation, and The Northern Trust Bank.

“My works are the expressive reflections of inner and outer journeys. Each painting documents a fleeting moment in my life, infused with all of it's emotions and perceptions. I venture in and out of reality playing with shifts in focus and viewpoint. Using mixed media, including the finest watercolors, I encourage the paint to flow and burst into magical shapes, helping to birth its own creation. Regardless of media, each stroke of the brush inspires the next, and ultimately, the outcome. Interwoven in all of the art that I create is my love for this magnificent planet and all of her creatures, particularly and most recently, elephants. My goal with each piece is to transport the viewer to a place of awareness and beauty, regardless of the subject.”

Liora will also be showing pieces spanning the last two decades of European Architecture, Mandalas, and my Backyard Series along with other works. This will be the largest showing of her works to date.